Projo Offbeat Blog

Last month's restroom controversy starring Sen. Larry Craig revealed that some men do things they shouldn't do in public bathrooms. Now we receive news that that many men don't do something they should do in the men's room.

A study released this week revealed that just 66 percent of men wash their hands after using public bathrooms. A market-research company reached that conclusion after observing the behavior of 6,076 adults in public restrooms in four cities. (The next time you think you've got a lousy job, remember, you could have a job doing market research in a bathroom.)

So don't be insulted if I refuse to shake your hand, because from now on, I plan to play the percentages and shake hands only with two out of three men I meet under hand-shaking circumstances.

The restroom research by the dedicated sinkside stalkers is useful on several other levels. The research might help explain why the lines are so much longer outside women's restrooms during sporting events and concerts. Researchers found that a much higher percentage of women, 88 percent, actually take the time to wash their hands after using the bathroom. Women are apparenlty less concerned than men about getting back into the beer line before it's shut down.

And the study shows a troubling trend for bathroom sink salesmen. A similar study in 2005 found that 83 percent of adults -- men and women combined -- washed their hands, but that figure has dropped to 77 percent in just two years, according to the more recent study. If the trend continues at that rate, bathroom sinks will be used exclusively as planters in a dozen years.

In addition to being dirty, the research suggests that we might also be dirty liars. The market researchers also surveyed 1,001 men and women via telephone, with 92 percent saying they always wash their hands after using a public restroom.

One report said reseachers couldn't explain the disparity.

Of course, a lot of the bathroom users might have intended to wash up, but gotten spooked and bolted when they noticed the guy with the clipboard monitoring their every move.

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